“it could not be worse,” passini said respectfully. “there is nothing worse than war.” “defeat is worse.” “i do not believe it,” passini said still respectfully. “what is defeat? you go home.” “they come after you. they take your home. they take your sisters.” “i don’t believe it,” passini said. “they can’t do that to everybody. let everybody defend his home. let them keep their sisters in the house.” this excerpt exemplifies how hemingway uses short sentences that are still loaded with meaning. contain very little more meaning. are purposefully difficult to understand. hold limited symbolic value.